Summary of National and International Radioactive Waste Management Programs 1979

Many nations and international agencies are working to develop improved technology and industrial capability for nuclear fuel cycle and waste management operations. The effort in some countries is limited to research in university laboratories on treating low-level waste from reactor plant operations. In other countries, national nuclear research institutes are engaged in major programs in all phases of the fuel cycle and waste management, and there is a national effort to commercialize fuel cycle operations.<br/><br/>Since late 1976, staff members of Pacific Northwest Laboratory have been working under USERDA/DOE sponsorship to assemble and consolidate openly available information on foreign and international nuclear waste management programs and technology. This report summarizes the information collected on the status of fuel cycle and waste management programs in selected countries making major efforts in these fields. This compilation attempts to provide current information as of the end of January 1979. The situation in many countries is changing rapidly, however, and the data presented may be outdated.<br/>